During his address to FIFA’s General Assembly, the President of the Palestinian Football Association, Jibril Rajoub, levelled direct criticism at what he described as a lack of fairness in the application of regulations within the international football system, emphasising that the crux of the Palestinian position is the demand that the same rules be applied to all associations without exception or selectivity.

Rajoub clarified that the Palestinian Football Association has never asked FIFA to intervene in political conflicts, but merely demands that football be administered in accordance with the regulations and laws approved by all members, stressing that the issue concerns the governance of the game and not any considerations outside its sporting framework.

FIFA’s structural flaw

He added that the conclusions reached by FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee, in his words, reveal a structural flaw and institutional collusion that strikes at the very heart of the mission for which the International Federation of Association Football was established, noting that the application of the rules has become unequal among member associations.

He noted that football rules are strictly applied to certain parties, whilst flexibility is shown towards others, arguing that this situation threatens the principle of sporting justice and puts the credibility of the system at stake.

Al-Rajoub emphasised that FIFA’s authority derives its strength not only from organising tournaments or financial revenues, but from the member associations’ confidence that the rules are applied equally, and that the principle of equality is the foundation of membership of the international football body, alongside a serious commitment to human rights standards as binding obligations rather than mere slogans.

He concluded by emphasising that the continuation of this approach of inconsistent application of regulations transforms the concept of justice within football into a matter of shifting interpretation, placing FIFA under a direct responsibility to protect the credibility of its legal system.

By Alaa Shamali

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